Welcome lift in quarterly mining applications

• Mining proposals at three-year high

• State Government processing 94% of applications within timeframes

The State Government has received more mining proposals in the December quarter of 2014 than at any time since the final quarter of 2011.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion welcomed the increase, which accompanied a lift in applications for exploration and prospecting.

"It's a positive sign that 1,891 Programme of Work applications were received by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) in the second half of 2014, compared with 1,868 in the same period in 2013, despite an overall declining trend in applications since 2012," Mr Marmion said.

"The 82 mining proposals lodged last quarter are well up on the low of 54 a year earlier."

The increases come as a new approvals performance report shows that during the final quarter of 2014, the DMP finalised more than 94 per cent of mining, petroleum, environment and safety applications within its target timelines:

• Of 882 mineral tenure applications received, 97 per cent were finalised within the 65 working day target

• Of 548 mining environment and safety applications received, 96 per cent were finalised within the 30 working day target

• Of the 241 petroleum tenure, environment and safety applications, 82 per cent were finalised within the target timeline.

"These results are extremely pleasing given the department's target is to achieve greater than 80 per cent of applications finalised within target timelines," the Minister said.

"They highlight the dedication of staff and the effectiveness of reforms initiated under the Liberal National Government."

The December quarter 2014 completes five years of approvals performance reporting by the department.

       Fact File

• 3,359 mineral tenure applications were lodged in 2014

• To see the full report, visit http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au  

• The lower number of mineral exploration Programme of Work applications received in the December quarter is in line with the seasonal trend of the past five years

Minister's office - 6552 6800